I've posted a pic of my commuter/utility bike in this thread a couple of times over the years, but have since added a nifty Xootr Crossrack and Crossbag to the rig...that, and my old server is offline so the pics aren't visible anymore anyway, so it's time for a new one.

The bike is an old Novara Buzz, about 7 years old now, with a few component changes over the years, most notably wheels and crank. Drivetrain is original, and next up for upgrades. The post protruding from the bottom bracket is a hitch for a Chariot sidecar.

http://p10.hostingprod.com/@chaadtho...z_june2013.jpg

Thats pretty awesome! I'll be interested in how you like that frame. I didn't hit quote I was referring to the Origin 8 buly, but the Buzz is pretty sweet too. =)

Man, I'd like to find one of those now.

If you're addressing me about the Big Buzz, I can tell you that it has been great!

First, the bike fits great; it does has one of those stupid 29er type forks that are extra tall to simulate the height of a suspension fork, but the head tube is rather more standard height, so a popped up tall front end is not a problem as it is-- for me-- on so many flat bar road and hybrid bikes of late.

It fits and feels like a road bike. Though I otherwise ride steel primarily, this feels pretty forgiving despite the alu post and frame; maybe it's the higher volume tires.

The handling is crisp and stable, without surprises. It's alu and solid feeling under power and through turns. I haul a couple of kids in a trailer and a third in a sidecar quite often, and have never noticed any significant or disconcerting flex.

It has a full complement of braze-ons (and chainstay bridge) for fenders and racks, and good tire clearance. I reckon it could fit 35s no problem, maybe wider, but I run 28s summer (as pictured) and 30s, Kenda Kwiks, in winter without any fender or other adjustments.

Decals are discrete, the satin grey paint almost metal look, the derailleur hanger is replaceable, and the cable routing is sane (particularly the rear brake routed along the top tube, which is positioned underneath at like 7 or 8 o' clock. Seatpost is a little odd, IIRC, at 27.0mm, but I could be wrong about that. Seat tube and DT H2O braze-ons, and internal headset. The fork is Al.

Newer versions of the Big Buzz frame look longer, taller in front, and more slack angled, though the component spec is similar. I have changed the crank, BB, stem, and wheels on mine, but that's it.

I hope that gets to what you were asking about!

Edit: Oh yeah, and the weld fillets are fat and lovely!

My own N=1, one year after I rebuilt it. It's still mostly a 1990 Univega Via Carisma. It did sport a honey Brooks B17 Special (and matching tape, of course) for 2000 miles, but that worked out only most of the time.

http://imageshack.us/a/img819/3563/p1040510x.jpg

Those n=1 bikes are nice.

Thanks. The bully frame isn't bad, I love the geometry, the steel frame, and the fact that it had disc brake mounts but I don't love the horizontal dropouts and the stamped dropouts aren't the thickest. overall I love the bike but it really makes me want to do a custom steel frame in a similar format.

well I found mine less than 2 months ago and I have been in contact with at least 2 other guys who each recently found one, keep an eye out, there may be more floating around. If you are serious call around to some shops that deal with JB importers the one I got had been sitting in that shop in midtown Manhattan for 2+ years and was on clearance.

My dream bike is a monstercross minivelo. I hope one of these days I can make it happen.

I am pretty sure a small shop here in Lincoln actually had one of these Bullys in stock. I stopped and chatted with the owner and showed him my minivelo I think I had the Citta I got off eBay with me at the time. If he has them here in Lincoln I would think they have to be available in other places although this guy seemed to be quite the vet of the bike scene and was committed to selling stuff nobody else in town has.

Scored a new to me bike, that I will soon be turning into a commuter (Never-minding that it is a ladys frame) I am 1.73m and it feels quite nice when I sat on it..

The bike came from my mother in law's coworker who crashed it when it was on the top of the car and broke the rear derailleur hook, bent the derailleur, and broke a spoke in the rear wheel. the frame looks intact.. the bike is 2 years old and she got a new one thru the insurance..

It is a Cube Town mat black.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...era/null-6.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...era/null-5.jpg

http://www.pedalroom.com/p/87-fuji-flair-6806_17.jpg
http://www.pedalroom.com/p/87-fuji-flair-6806_15.jpg

now with 32c Pasela TG's

$420 total

new headset and bb then Chip will be complete

took this guy on a century a couple weeks ago when it was still on armadillo 23s and it was great.
these 32s with the brooks makes it feel like riding on a cloud

^^^^
Nice Mumonkan!

Hey, now, that's pretty cool! Looks purposeful, fast...and totally sane (e.g. V brakes! I never want to touch another canti for the rest of my life!). If I didn't need fenders, I'd ride that! Nicely done bike, sir!

Crappy cell phone sneak peek at the Kuwie, finally got around to getting some done on her. Once I get it finished I'm gonna dig up the build post for it and update it.
http://i.imgur.com/YBBU574.jpg

You really can commute on anything... took my Garlatti out the other day and opted to take the low road home. It was a little cooler riding on the trail beside the creek and the bike does not mind gravel and hard pack.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikep...reek%20(6).JPG

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikep...reek%20(4).JPG

Chip is very pretty.

Here is the latest iteration of my regular commuter...sitting at the house, waiting for the rain to stop.http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=321788

My LHT. I fitted it with some Schwalbe Fat Franks so I won't lose my mind taking it over washboard roads when I visiting out in the country. I'm pretty sure I've got enough room to safely fit some VO Zeppelin fenders on there. I just need to get 'em and find out.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=321816

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=321814

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=321813

Super granny gearing. 34 tooth in back, 24 up front.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=321815

After the fenders, I'm looking to get a surly nice for up front.

My MTB gearing goes almost as low as yours with a 22 front ring and 28 rear cog. :)

The silly part is that I live in Kansas. It's not so much the hills that are a problem (the steepest hill in the area is probably only 8-10% grade), it's trying to push those buckets through our winds while going up said hill. And, what can I say, I'd rather plant my leisurely tush in the saddle and spin.

Gotta love the littiers... and I like the artisinally crafted handles, 100% from post-consumer waste (i.e. old tubes)

Very nice. How much was the total cost of the build?

http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/...607_130510.jpg
http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/...607_130521.jpg
This is my cheap schwinn with its new bars.

Well its a hair more than too much at this point but I love it so who cares. I'd say like $1300 soup to nuts now that I added my birthday present, a shimano ZEE shifter+derailleur and a sram pg1070 11-32 cassette. Now I can call it "My ten speed".
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3819/8...8e99bd92_b.jpg

new addition to my commuter for my birthday. garmin edge 200 gps/comp.
i love the size, and it provides the perfect amount of functionality i wanted. it lets me upload to mapmyride without a hitch.
used it today on a ride, but very excited to use it monday on my commute!
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3800/8...427186_c_d.jpg

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=322442http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=322443http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=322444http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=322445http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=322446http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=322447



Here's my two bikes. The "before" picture of the blue Schwinn is exactly how it looked when i bought it. The before pic of the red mongoose is after i had added the rack, mirror, kickstand. I have about $400 in each of them.

Wait, I've been admiring pics of this lil' beast, and 65ers Moulton, but I just realized, this doesn't fold! (or at least I can't see any articulation points). Is it really that much smaller than a full-sized road bike this way that it makes a difference?

pauschl, I assume you posted your "before" pics after your "after" pics, and your "after" pics before your "before" pics?

Tell me about the shifters/placement on the drop bars on the schwinn. The red dials look like these, am I right? How does it work for you to put the right shifter inside the top of the drops like that? Does it range both above and below the bar? Do you work it thumb-only, or do your fingers get involved from underneath as well?

Yes, correct assumption. Oops...


Correct again. Sunrace shifters. $18 yeehaw!
I works pretty well. Actually I love it. i tried the left one like that too but it didn't work as well. I like it near the stem.

I switched the shifters, left shifter on the right side of the bar, and vice versa. So when I push down/forward on the right shifter it is shifting up to a harder gear. I've found that to down shift it works best to use the thumb to pull the shifter up. But you can also use the fingers from underneath. When I get to the lowest gear, the shifter is just barely higher than the hood.

Shifting in the drops works even better than on the hoods. I used to have shallower drops and the shifter got in the way sometimes. With these bars it's easy to reach with the thumb but out of the way for moving my hands forward in the drops.

Wow, 100% personally-customized ergonomics! I've heard of swapping brake levers before (SB liked that, I think I'm too far along to switch at this point), but never shifters. So when you have the lever horizontal/forward like pictured, is that your small ring or your middle ring? (assuming you have a triple -- will I be correct again for a hat trick?!)

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=322494

1992('93?) Trek Antelope 800
Just transferred the parts from my Diamondback frame yesterday and got it fine tuned this morning. Great fit for me and I can't wait to go on tour with it. It is also my commuter and I have commuted just over 200 miles with it. With this frame I have gone about 10 miles.

I am thinking about converting to friction shifters. Will friction shifters work with a 3x7 drivetrain?
Josh